Be One World, Be The Light
Chapter 11: Revelations
Well, it's past midnight my time. This is Friday! This is it. This is the one I've been looking forward to publish the most. Enjoy.
Darkness claimed Sonic as he willingly threw himself through the portal. His last memory of Amy pleading for help continued racing around his mind, even as his body gave out and went limp. Slowly stirring from his unconscious state, his eyes opened, feeling the side of his face buried into rough gravel.
Sonic groaned, pressing both hands against the ground. He stumbled to his feet, lightly slapping his own head for an adrenaline rush. "What happened?"
As reality came back to him, he spun around in confusion. The powerful blizzard was no more, neither were the endless trees of Floral Forest Village. While darkened clouds formed above the sky with the night air asserting the land, the temperature had noticeable improved. It was nowhere close to the tropical sun of Green Hill, though it provided enough warmth to stop him from freezing. Ruined buildings loomed menacingly over the hedgehog. A once vibrant city was now a ghost town. The streets were filled with litter and abandoned vehicles, but what caught his focus was the lifeless pink figure nearby.
"Amy!"
He quickly dashed forward, throwing himself onto his knees. His arms gently wrapped around the pink hedgehog, cradling her softly. He gently shook Amy, her head bobbing with every movement. "Amy? Wake up, Amy!"
Relief filled his face, exhaling sharply as his pleas broke through. Amy softly groaned, her eyelids opening very delicately. She blinked softly, pushing through her blurred vision to be greeted by the kind smile of the one she adored. "Sonic?"
"Hey," he greeted softly and gently brushed his fingers through her hair, pushing out loose pebbles and dirt. "Are you okay?"
Amy softly nodded. "I think so," her eyes peered around the surrounding area, unfamiliar with the destroyed city. "Where are we?"
"I… Don't know," Sonic hesitantly admitted, matching her confused gaze. For all of the vast knowledge he held over the world, nothing in the surrounding vicinity sparked any familiarity. He took her hand and they both stood up simultaneously.
His heart pounded like crazy, a feeling of unease settling deep within his bones. He masked his concerns with a curious expression, keeping up a brave facade for the sake of Amy. Sonic absently scanned around the area, hoping to find any clue or indication as to where they may be. Both arms folded across his chest, peering around with curiosity.
Amy, concerned about the whereabouts of their friends, broke him from his thoughts at last. "Have you seen the others?"
Sonic shook his head. "Just you. But they can't be too far."
He raised his arm and delicately tapped on the communicator, relieved to see it hadn't taken damage during the fall. As he pressed through the contacts, all four bars of the signal metre faded away. "Drat, doesn't look like there's any signal out here. Guess we're gonna have to go looking the old-fashioned way."
A small smirk crept across his muzzle as he hunched down, both arms lowered to the ground. "Up for a little adventure?"
Despite the circumstances, Amy mustered a smile in return. "Always."
She placed herself into his grip. One arm supported her head with the other swept under her legs. Sonic paused for a moment to check if she was comfortable. Without another word, he raced forward into the unknown territory. Amy, who was not used to the high-velocity speeds, squinted her eyes shut till she adjusted to the winds.
Sonic raced through the deserted streets with Amy secured safely in his arms. Finally liberated from the mountains of snow, he was free to run to his heart's desire. His feet delicately tapped against the ruined gravel. The streets were no more, barely held together. The countless potholes and abandoned cars occasionally forced Sonic to bounce over them. Amy briefly peaked her eyes open. The haunting sight of the lifeless city filled her with a sense of dread. She silently prayed none of her friends had been hurt.
As her eyes trailed down the several side streets, something caught her eye. She threw her arm forward and pointed. "Sonic, look!"
The blue hedgehog skidded to a halt, sneakers squealing within the humid air. He reversed backwards and followed her directions, dashing forward through the narrow street. Pressed against one of the ruined buildings was a familiar aircraft turned on one side. The occupants inside squealed with terror as a large robot repeatedly pressed his fist against the glass dome, determined to tear it to pieces.
"Must eliminate Doctor Eggman!" Omega declared, showing no hints of slowing down.
Eggman held on for dear life as the Egg Mobile rocketed with every punch, the glass dome threatening to break at any moment. The material had been built to withstand intense pressures, yet nothing could keep Omega from his prey. Orbot and Cubot tried in vain to negotiate with the powerful robot, but nothing could tame his anger.
A blue figure caught the corner of Eggman's eye, almost relieved to see his greatest nemesis for once. "Sonic! Tell him to stop it!"
Sonic grinned, mocking Eggman in a sing-song voice. "I don't know. He looks pretty angry!"
Eggman clenched both hands together. "Please!"
He softly chuckled, his laughter forcing a small giggle to leave Amy. He paused to gently set her down before striding forward. "Okay, only because you said please. Cool it, Omega."
The robot briefly paused in his movements, rotating around to face the familiar allies. "Negative. Doctor Eggman must pay for his actions."
"But if he dies then we can't get out of here, right?" Sonic tried to rationalise.
Omega briefly paused, the inner workings of his motorised brain forcing him to calculate. Logic dictated he eliminated the threat once and for all. But the rational side of his programming said otherwise. He paused, looming over the Egg Mobile with an aura of intimidation. His red orbs carried great rage, his metallic frame casting a shadow over the good doctor.
As silence descended upon the group, Omega finally leaned back and lowered his working arm. "I agree with your logic. Doctor Eggman may be spared. For now."
Eggman reclined backwards, holding both hands up in surrender. Fortunately, Sonic got through to Omega before the dome cracked. As the robot shifted back into defensive mode, Sonic knelt down to the side of the Egg Mobile, teasing the doctor by sticking his tongue out. With a soft growl, Eggman pressed the manual release switch on the dashboard, separating the dome.
He crawled out with some difficulty, staggering to his feet. Eggman polished the dust from his coat and cleared his throat, trying to regain his proud self. Orbot and Cubot soon joined their master, floating absently by his side.
"Thank you for the help, Sonic," Orbot said with gratitude.
"We were almost made into scrap!" Cubot exclaimed.
Sonic merely grinned. While he wasn't particularly fond of Eggman's forces, he held a soft spot for Orbot and Cubot. They worked together on several occasions in the past, though only out of sharing a mutual goal. He never saw them as a direct threat. If anything, Sonic loved seeing their antics drive Eggman to insanity.
While the doctor checked to see what could be salvaged, Amy slowly approached the large robot. "Omega, have you seen the others?"
"Negative," Omega responded. "But scans indicate there are several life forms within a two hundred mile radius."
Adamant they were his friends, Sonic stood to attention. "I'll go looking for them. Omega, can you keep an eye on Eggman? Make sure he tries nothing?"
"Affirmative," Omega agreed.
"And Amy, you keep an eye on Omega," Sonic humorously added with a small wink. "Make sure he doesn't turn Eggman into scrambled eggs."
Amy softly giggled. Even during the worst days of her life she could count on Sonic to always bring a smile to her face with his humour. She threw out her hand and summoned her trusty hammer once more, holding it proudly against her shoulder. "You can count on me."
He offered a two-fingered salute before racing down the deserted streets once more. Along the way, he tinkered with the communicator, desperately trying to find a signal and contact Tails for assistance. No matter where he moved, whether it was on the ground below on the buildings on top, the signal bars did not alter in the slightest. With an exasperated sigh, he continued racing forward, arms pushed back as he jetted towards no particular location.
Silver groaned, feeling like a building had just pressed down on his chest. He leaned up, one hand clutching the side of his throbbing head. "That hurt."
As the ground rubble pressed uncomfortable against his back, Silver threw his eyes open and jolted forward, springing to his feet. Cyan energy surrounded him once more, eyes frantically darting around the area. Empty streets, turned over cars and barely standing buildings surrounded him on all sides.
Horror filled his eyes once more, a sense of dread twisting his stomach. "I'm… Home?"
Crisis City, or what remained of it, surrounded him in all directions. While humid air filled his lungs, the temperature had considerably warmed up. The fires were no more, though it was clear the aftermath was just as bad as the beginning. Overwhelmed with one too many questions, he pressed both hands tightly around his head, trying to contain the raw emotion that threatened to take hold.
He was angry. The rage had been there for a while now, the anger escaping when he was away from those he cared for. He wanted to scream, to let the universe know of his rage. But in troubled times, keeping a firm grip on the best of himself was his greatest option. Silver exhaled deeply, choosing to remain reliable for those he cared for.
"Silver, over here!"
Relieved to hear a friendly voice, Silver threw himself to one side, extensive relief overcoming his anger. A familiar feline and echidna stood on the busy streets below, the former gesturing for him to approach while the latter took position on a turned over car, surveying the area for lingering threats. He hastily approached, happy to see his friends were unharmed.
"Blaze!" Silver exclaimed, calling on every ounce of strength to stop himself from hugging her. "Are you okay?"
"I am," she simply nodded. "But I have no idea what has become of the others. Or where we are for that matter."
Silver's expression faded, sorrow plastering his gaze. "This is my home."
Blaze's eyebrows raised, her mouth dropping at the comment. Feeling a sense of guilt for her abrupt comment, she sheepishly turned and glanced to her feet. "Oh. I… I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Silver softly assured. "You didn't know."
The two focused their attention towards the lone echidna taking guard. Neither were familiar with the warrior, only noting her small appearances during their video calls. Shade showed no hint of fear, slowly scanning around the area to assess the situation. Her arms folded against her chest, feet slowly shifting into a defensive stance.
"The portals must have been a gateway between worlds," Shade stated, addressing no one in particular. "But how that came to be is a mystery. We should focus on regrouping with the others first."
Silver nodded in agreement. "I'll get up high and look around."
His telekinetic powers allowed his feet to leave the land, ascending towards the clouded sky till he overpassed the tallest building. Now briefly alone, he dropped the mask, grinding his teeth while becoming breathless with anger. There was a strong urge to hit something or someone, hoping it would relieve some pent-up rage. Fortunately, something else caught his gaze before he could do so, urging the hedgehog to jolt forward.
The Ultimate Life Form stood at the corner of the tallest building, both arms crossed while peering forward into the distance. He searched for nothing in particular, though did carry a sense of wonder to their current situation. His eyes located the future warrior approaching from afar, confirming he was not the only one within this desolate land.
"Shadow, you okay?" Silver asked.
Shadow nodded, his stance not budging in the slightest. He briefly glanced down towards the barren streets below, taking note of the familiar blue streak passing through. "Looks like we're not the only ones who made it here."
Silver followed his gaze, barely catching Sonic running by before he was long gone. "I'm with Blaze and… Shade, I think her name is? Have you seen the others?"
"You just missed Rouge," Shadow replied. "She just found Big wandering around like a lost puppy. Have you happened to see Omega?"
"Sorry," Silver sheepishly said, one hand nervously tugging at his quills. "I've just woken up."
With a contemplative hum, Shadow uncrossed his arms. "Come on."
The dark hedgehog bounced forward, jet skates roaring to life as he charged through the empty streets. Silver followed suit, leaving a trail of cyan energy within his wake. The sooner they found the others, the better.
Sonic skidded to a halt once more as he reached the end of a torn apart highway. Metres away from the edge was Vector sprawled across the ground. Charmy slumped against the crocodile's chest. Relieved to see more friendly faces, Sonic delicately approached and hunched down to greet the duo.
He grasped Vector's shoulder, shaking him awake. "You okay, Vector?"
A frustrated groan responded to his question. Vector's eyes peered open, as did Charmy's seconds later. He grabbed the side of his head, wincing as blood pounded through his eardrums. "Man, that was some ride. Remind me not to take that rollercoaster again."
Charmy matched his frustration, his small wings buzzing to life and lifting him into the air. He peered around with concern for their missing teammate. "Hey, where's Espio?"
"Under here."
Sonic shifted his focus underneath the crocodile where the chameleon was located, pressed tightly under his teammate's heavy body weight.
"Vector… Get. Off. Me."
"Oops, sorry," Vector pushed himself up, revealing the flattened chameleon below. He grasped the detective and pulled him to his feet with ease.
Espio grunted, exhaling sharply to drown away his discomfort. He peered around the surrounding area, concern filling his otherwise stern gaze. "We appear to be a long way from home."
"Where the heck are we?" Charmy piped up with a small shrug.
"More importantly, how did we get here?" Espio added. "This place… There's nothing but ashes in all directions. Is this the result of Doctor Eggman?"
"For once, old Egghead had nothing to do with this," Sonic explained, fighting the urge to chuckle at how ridiculous the claim sounded. "He's just as confused as the rest of us. I take it you haven't seen the others yet?"
Vector peered around, spotting a cyan glow approaching them from afar. "I think we just found them!"
Sonic followed his pointed finger, smiling as the rest of their friends approached from all directions. Those who could fly approached from above while the others raced through the rigid streets. Grateful to see everyone in one piece, their next course of action was to determine how to escape the desolate land.
Upon meeting up with the others, the regrouped friends returned to Amy and Omega's position. True to his word, Omega refrained himself from tearing Eggman to pieces with his metal claws, though he made no attempt to conceal his disdain for doing so. As everyone met up, Silver went on to explain how this was his world, or what was left of it.
"But if this is my future, where are all the creatures?" Silver questioned aloud. "Before I returned to the past, everything was on fire. Then that big monster showed up!"
"Monster?" Shade echoed.
Silver nodded. "Yeah! Salorus, Silrus, something like that. That's what my friend said before… Before I came back."
There was no mistaking the hesitation filling his voice. Returning here revived painful memories, ones he could not push to the back of his mind any longer. While his friends sympathised, Eggman held a small device within his hands, searching for answers of their whereabouts. The machine beeped quite obnoxiously, but failed to bring the answers he sought.
Growing impatient, Eggman hurled the device to one side. "Bah! Stupid thing is busted!"
Frowning at the childish nature, Blaze marched forward and unexpectedly seized the doctor by his collar, bringing him down to her level with a simple tug. He whelped with surprise, forced to peer into her furious gaze.
"Eggman," she hissed. "Look into my eyes and swear you had nothing to do with this!"
"I already told you I didn't!" Eggman defensively exclaimed, not daring to try and escape her fury. "Ask Omega! He did a scan!"
"I'm not Omega!" Blaze barked, increasing her grip strength while raising her free hand. Flames danced around her wrist, her hand trembling with anticipation. She could see her own fires reflecting on the doctor's glasses, the only barrier separating them from making full eye contact. "Answer my question!"
The others watched on in suspecence, holding mixed reactions. No one dared to intervene, refusing to get on her bad side. Amy briefly contemplated stepping forward, but Sonic placed his hand against her shoulder with a silent head shake. Shadow quite enjoyed the spectacle, relishing in watching the doctor squirm.
"No," Eggman answered. "I did not."
She snarled in return, hoping her flames would provoke a different reaction. Nevertheless, she finally released her grip and let go.
Eggman slumped to the ground, barely caught by Orbot and Cubot. He sprung to his feet in no time with renewed vigour. "If you're so concerned then just use Chaos Control!"
In their haste to reunite, everyone fell oblivious to the sacred Chaos Emeralds. Sonic dug into his quills, only to find the absence of a Chaos Emerald. He quickly glanced towards Shadow and Espio, who both silently confirmed their own gems were missing too. Out of instinct, Blaze clutched at her pocket, feeling the outline of the Sol Emerald still resting within.
"They're gone," Sonic muttered. "We definitely had them!"
Blaze swiftly removed the powerful gemstone and held it forward. To her horror, the gentle glow it once possessed was gone, as if all life had been drained from the Emerald. "I don't understand. Something is nullifying the Sol Emerald's power, something akin to overwhelming negative energy. We should find the source at once!"
Shadow chastised himself for losing the Chaos Emerald, though refused to let the disappointment cross his face. He leaned to one side and peered over Sonic's shoulder, noting the black sea approaching from the distance. "Looks like we're not alone."
All sets of eyes honed in towards the Ultimate Life Form, horror beginning to fill their expressions as an overwhelming wave of bloodlust enveloped the streets. The Shadow Creatures flooded the surrounding area, pressed against the other in their haste to reach their prey. Their painful screeches echoed throughout the air, their yells carrying pain, as if their mere existence brought them agony.
Eggman swiftly raised his laser pistol, shooting the nearest monster. "Back off!"
Blaze pocketed the Sol Emerald and took the lead, spinning around gracefully with one foot crossed over her leg, summoning a wide ring of flames around her person. She pirouetted through the Shadow Creatures, her flames disintegrating the monsters that dared to approach her. She blazed through the endless swarm, showing no signs of slowing down.
Inspired by her determination, Silver raced forward to her aid, hurling telekinetic blasts towards the dangerous beings. The Shadow Creatures threw themselves forward towards the future warrior, grasping their powerful claws against his person. They tore and slashed at the hoodie he wore, threatening to tear it to pieces. He acted fast, throwing both arms outward and releasing a wave of powerful psychokinetic energy, forcing the monsters away.
Amy, who had yet to encounter said creatures, forced herself to fight, even as their sinister appearances terrified her to the core. With her trusty hammer held close, she flattened the monsters that tried to grab at her. Sonic stayed close by her side, homing in on the Shadow Creatures. He bounced from one to the other, occasionally kicking them away with his powerful legs.
As Rouge took advantage of her ability to fly to keep out of range, one of the Shadow Creatures tried their luck and slashed towards her, clipping a part of her coat. In retaliation, she spun around and drove her leg against its neck, breaking it with powerful momentum. As the monster faded away, she glanced down at her arm and frowned with annoyance. "Hey, this is an expensive coat!"
"You can file a complaint to the fashion police later!" Vector exclaimed, holding back dozens of the Shadow Creatures with nothing more than his raw strength.
They clawed and pressed against his arm, overwhelming the crocodile with their endless numbers. He reared back his free arm and punched the closest monster, creating a dynamo effect and knocking down the others as well. As the Shadow Creatures stacked on one another, Vector scooped them up before hurling them forward, knocking down more of the approaching monsters.
"Yes!" he cheered. "Strike!"
Espio focused on protecting Charmy, concerned the monsters were too much for the young bee to take on. The monsters circled around him in all directions, some of them looming over within the air. He cupped both hands firmly, channelling the inner warrior within. "Behold, NINJA POWER!"
Espio raced forward, moving swiftly with incredible speeds and leaving multiple illusions of himself. The Shadow Creatures, not knowing how to react, struggled to adapt. The several afterimages closed in and unleashed their fury. Espio brandished two kunai blades and repeatedly slashed at the monsters. With every precise strike, he robbed the monsters of their terrifying existence. As they seemingly adapted to the situation, Espio bounced into the air with a graceful twirl, hurling several shurikens with accurate precision. They picked off the few stragglers with ease.
Omega took position at the top of a deserted moving truck, his working arm bursting several rounds of ammunition, cutting down the horde of creatures with ease. His scans revealed all reserved ammo reached its capacity, leaving only smoke within its wake. "Primary rounds extinguished. Switching to flamethrower."
His cannon swapped once more, scorching flames bursting from his arm towards the Shadow Creatures. His flames incinerated them whole, their anguished screams filling the air as they faded into nothing but ashes. Despite the team effort, the Shadow Creatures' endless numbers continued to pour in all directions, but their numbers seemed to dwindle at the same time, as if the monsters had their sights set on something else.
Most of the Shadow Creatures ignored their prey, choosing instead to overwhelm Shadow with their sheer numbers, apparently seeing them as their biggest threat. The Ultimate Life Form fought them away brazenly, punching, kicking and hurling energetic projectiles towards them. Despite his incredible powers, Shadow was only one and they were many. The Shadow Creatures threw themselves toward, latching onto the dark hedgehog. He fought vainality, fighting to the very end as he was destined to. The Shadow Creatures tore at his flesh, determined to rip him to pieces.
The others desperately tried to help, only for a few stragglers to keep their attention away. Even if they could reach Shadow, getting through the hundreds of Shadow Creatures would be a challenge. While the others fought with every ounce of determination, Rouge's ears perked up, familiar vibrations beginning to tickle her hearing. Through the endless swarm surrounding her partner, she recognised a familiar red glow beginning to form within.
"Uh-oh," Rouge gasped with widened eyes. "You guys might want to stand back."
"CHAOS BLAST!"
Blazing Chaos energy burst from the centre, a sickening thunder echoing from the Ultimate Life Form. Tremendous energy spread in all directions, unleashing a colossal burst of force that incinerated the Shadow Creatures with a simple touch. Lighting streamed from the impact, knocking up chunks of the streets throughout the area, igniting the air with intensity. Everyone wisely chose to move out of harm's way before Shadow's attack accidentally consumed them. The powerful force of winds brushed against them, the intense light forcing their arms to shield their eyes.
The violent air pressure around them faded away at last. The area finally settled, the blazing aura of energy fading away. In place of where the Shadow Creatures once stood, the Ultimate Life Form remained as the single victor, surrounded by a neon red coat of energy. With a loud gasp, he slumped forward and fell to his hands and knees, both Inhibitor Rings dropping to his sides.
Rouge raced to his side, scooping the rings up and swiftly reattaching them to his wrists. Without asking, she took his arm and helped him to stand. "Shadow, are you okay?"
The dark hedgehog exhaled with relief, feeling the rings' effects stabilise his power once more. As his strength returned, Shadow gently took his arm back. "I'll live."
Unnerving silence filled the voidless city once more. The ashes of their enemies lingered throughout the air, softly smearing against their furs. The horde was no more, though this didn't bring any reassurances. The group huddled closely together, holding formation and awaiting for further dangers. Cyan energy flowed gently around Silver, scorching flames basked Blaze, waiting with anticipation.
"Are you missing something?"
The group dared to look up, mixed feelings racing around their minds, though everyone shared equal determination. The dark being towered over them, accompanied with seven clones. Though his frightening presence caught their attention, everyone took note of his drastic change of appearance. No longer was Mephiles a mere copy of Shadow. Ice crystals now jutted out from his gloveless hands and quills, fingers now ending in white-tipped claws and bloodshot eyes casting an aura of inhumanity. However, the seven clones still held the appearance of Shadow, each holding a lifeless Chaos Emerald within their grasp.
"Welcome home, Silver," Mephiles said sadistically. "Or should I welcome the dear princess as well?"
Confusion briefly laced Blaze's features, though it faded as fast as it came. Fury filled her eyes, bringing up her scorching arms to fight. To her surprise, her arms slowly trembled, a sinking feeling beginning to take hold. She clenched her hands tightly in a futile attempt to quell her agitation, but her arms continued to shake uncontrollably. She swallowed her own fear to expand the safe zone for her friends, to become the stoic princess they deserved.
Mephiles saw right through the facade, his eyes telling her to expect pain if she dared to attack him. "Fear. Nothing like the dishonest of virtue to trigger the passion of terror. Do I frighten you, mighty princess?"
Silver's eyes narrowed, disgusted by the dark being's cruelty. He shielded Blaze from the evildoer's callous gaze. "Leave her alone."
A small, amused chuckle escaped Mephiles. "Always standing up for others, aren't you?"
"He's not the only one," Sonic spoke up, moving forward to stand by the future warrior's side. "It's like I told you back at the palace. If you got a problem with Blaze, you've got a problem with me."
"And me!" Amy agreed, her trusty hammer held firmly in her grasp, glaring daggers towards the evil being. "Nobody hurts my friends!"
One by one the team marched forward, asserting their determination. Doctor Eggman, who marvelled at the one responsible for this catastrophe, slowly shifted towards the back of the team. His trusty weapon held close within his grasp, ready to continue fighting if necessary.
Mephiles peered towards the group, specifically the blue hedgehog before him. "You could do nothing to me before. What makes you think this outcome will be any different?
"Because we don't give up," Sonic responded. "Throw as many monsters as you want at us! Just because you have the Chaos Emeralds doesn't mean you've won! You know how many times we take them back from Eggman?"
"Hey!" Eggman exclaimed, aggrieved by the remark.
With peaked interest, Mephiles slumped his head to one side. His several clones held position, none of them showing signs of life. They asbently floated above the original, their hands clutching the lifeless gemstones. "I have harnessed the negative power of the Chaos Emeralds. But I do not need them to fuel my own power. Their energy serves another purpose."
"Iblis," Shadow snarled.
Mephiles threw his eyes towards the dark hedgehog standing courageously before him. "Ah, so you are beginning to piece the puzzle together. Perhaps you are not as foolish as you seem."
Silver suddenly shot forward without warning, assertively demanding answers from the dark being. "Enough games, Mephiles! Who are you?!"
Unfazed by the forceful command, Mephiles ensnared the future warrior with his gaze. His stare was as uncomfortable as a chorus-girl corset and had the same effect on Silver's breathing, constricted and shallow. There was no life behind those eyes. Every move he made betrayed his intentions. None of them were noble.
"I suppose you are entitled to an explanation," Mephiles responded. "After all, we are approaching the end. But why anecdote you with words when I can show you?"
Everyone stood on edge as Mephiles calmly swiped his arm forward, unleashing a gentle wave of dark energy that surrounded the area. The energy consumed them before they were fully aware of his intentions. Without warning, half the team roared with anguish, clutching at their heads. Flashes of unexplained images spread through their minds, countless voices shooting through their eardrums with intensity.
Those painful memories were books with chapters, deep and horrible. They belonged on a shelf to gather dust. Like a pillow fashioned from glass shards, it cut deeper into them with every painful movement. Unable to keep his footing any longer, Silver collapsed onto the ground, his head tucked tightly between his arms, silently begging for the pain to stop. Sonic, Blaze, Amy, Shadow, Rouge, Omega and Eggman shared similar reactions. The robot's circuitry threatened to fry as overwhelming data filled his vision.
The other half of the team could only gawk in confusion. The Chaotix moved between the group, trying to break them out of whatever trance they were in. Big stood as he were, absently looking between his friends. He gently scooped Amy up as she squirmed, trying to understand what caused his friend great distress. Orbot and Cubot attended to their master, neither certain how to fix this remedy. The only one of the team unaffected by the malice act was Shade, who simply frowned towards Mephiles while standing guard over her friends.
With a simple snap of his fingers, Mephiles forced the energy trail to disperse, liberating the friends from their painful experience. The team shakily stood to their feet, supported by those who were unharmed by the process. Espio and Charmy held Sonic's arms as they helped him stand. Vector attended to Silver and Blaze, delicately helping them to their feet with his raw strength. Orbot and Cubot quickly dragged Eggman to his feet, concerned about his well-being.
Shadow recovered fast, one hand clutching tightly against his head. Even as his head throbbed like crazy, the first thought to cross his mind was his fellow teammate. He slowly shifted towards Omega, for once not holding that impassive demeanour of his. Shock filled his gaze, mouth slowly twisting with hurt. "Omega… You betrayed me?"
Sonic softly rubbed his face, checking his own hands to make sure he was still among the living. Great terror filled his usual upbeat demeanour, shakily turning towards the pink hedgehog with terror. "I… Died?"
"What happened? What happened? Tell me! Tell me!" Charmy repeatedly asked, flying around the blue hedgehog with urgency.
"Charmy, give them a moment," Espio said, moving quickly to study his friend's reaction. "Sonic?"
While the blue hedgehog stood speechless, Eggman stood up with a startled gasp. Orbot and Cubot let go of his arms as he strided forwards, gawking towards the evil being lingering above them. "You… Destroyed everything!"
Vector removed his hands from his fellow teammates once he was certain they could stand without support. He peered over them, a hint of unease filling his eyes. "Hey, uh. You guys good?"
Neither of the two answered his question, choosing to stare at the other instead. Silver and Blaze, friends from other worlds, mirrored the others' awestruck appearances. Their arms hung limp, slouched forward and utterly speechless. For the longest time, Silver could never make sense of the nightmares that plagued him for so long. But now all was finally revealed, and he wished he hadn't known the painful truth.
Silver gawked at Blaze with pure realisation, his eyes widened and mouth hung wide open. "We… Were… Best friends?"
Blaze almost mirrored his terrified expression, but found her trembling hand clutching to her chest. Despair filled her golden eyes, a great look of apprehension plastering her expression. "Iblis… Is sealed within ME?!"
Mephiles' sinister chuckle captivated their attention once more. Those who dared face him no longer saw the evil doer as a simple enemy. He was their damnation, the one who robbed them of everything once before and would do so again. "There is nothing more cruel than memories."
Conflicting emotions flooded Sonic, bringing the speedster to his knees. No longer did he carry that stride and confidence of a guy who loved adventure. "How are you here? We stopped you."
In acknowledgement to the question, Mephiles eagerly descended towards the ground, as if he'd been ecstatic to share this secret for so long. His clones held their position, showing no change in their stance. His crystalised feet pressed into the ground, raw energy slowly forcing loose pebbles and litter to scatter around the area. "You didn't stop me. You stopped a Mephiles..."
"My future self finally reunited with Iblis. We became one once more. Time was ours to take. Then the three of you used the power of the Chaos Emeralds to stand before me. It was a foolish gamble. No one could stand up to Solaris' might."
Sonic had fought the strongest of them all. Tearing apart Eggman's forces became second nature, but in this moment of despair, for the first time in forever, a sickening feeling lingered within his stomach. Doubt. The blue hedgehog slowly began to lose hope against the powerful being that threatened to tear down the fabric of reality. While he didn't want to admit it, Sonic feared the only reason he was still standing was thanks to the assistance of his friends.
Shadow fought the Sun God fearlessly, hurling multiple Chaos projectiles towards the powerful being. His former rival, who once tried to kill him in space, refused to allow him to fight alone. Time has certainly changed the Ultimate Life Form. He grew more mature, no longer harbouring a hatred for humanity and even went out of his way to save Sonic from Silver, the mysterious hedgehog from the future.
Said hedgehog fought alongside them, using his telekinetic powers to hurl Solaris' own attacks back towards him. While Sonic still didn't quite understand the reasonings for Silver's initial hostility, the two put aside their differences and cleared up any misunderstandings. Now the psychic warrior fought alongside them, determined to rid the evil being responsible for his future's destruction.
The three hedgehogs shared the powers of the Chaos Emeralds, the powerful gems granting them incredible strength and enhancing their natural abilities. Despite their Super Forms and combined attack, none of their attacks seemed to harm Solaris in the slightest. At best, all they seemed to be doing was enraging it further. Solaris was leagues above them. The Sun God withstood their strongest attacks. Sonic's speed, Shadow's Chaos abilities and Silver's telekinesis did nothing to leave any permanent effect.
Sonic narrowly avoided another powerful energy beam. The scorching energy grazed him across the chest, almost costing him his life once again. He glanced down, concerned to see a small cut spread across his chest. Their Super Forms, once thought to grant the wielder invincibility, did nothing to shelter them from Solaris' attacks.
Silver roared with frustration, distraught to see their efforts were in vain. The emotional pain of losing his best friend still weighed heavy on his heart, giving him the strength to keep fighting. "It's not working! He's too powerful!"
"Don't talk like that!" Shadow barked. "If we don't kill this thing now, everything we fought for will be for nothing! Is that what you want?!"
"No!" Silver exclaimed, straining his voice. "I… I just don't know what to do!"
Sonic glanced between the two hedgehogs, interfering before they fought amongst themselves again. "Guys, knock it off! We can beat this thing!"
While the trio fought together, the rest of their friends watched from the small pedestal from below. They were in the eye of the storm, barely escaping the erasure of time. Everyone held their breath, knowing their future depended on the outcome of this battle. Even Doctor Eggman, the blue hedgehog's greatest enemy, prayed for their victory. On occasion, the group cried out encouraging words to fuel the trio's resolve.
As the battle progressed, Solaris grew more powerful, ascending into a hawk-like spirit with powerful wings cast across the sky. This in turn removed the protective shells from its body, allowing Solaris to unleash its full potential. In doing so revealed a large red orb where the intellect and cruelty of the God remain dormant.
Eggman oberversed the battle, both arms crossed while rubbing one hand under his chin. He muttered quietly, taking note of the obvious core. "Is it impossible to defeat a super dimensional after all?"
His own question caught the attention of Princess Elise, who calmly stepped forward. She pressed both hands together, praying for the heroes' victory. Having Iblis sealed within her for so long created an unnatural bond between them. Even now as Iblis was no more, she could still feel a presence. It was faint, barely a whisper, but very much there. "No. Something's different. I can feel a large, powerful consciousness coming from Solaris!"
Eggman shifted his gaze suspiciously. "What? A consciousness? Hmm… That's it!" He snapped his fingers and quickly marched forward, cupping both hands over his mouth to amplify his yells. "Sonic, Silver, Shadow! You need to attack the core! Even if you can't stop his form, you can stop his consciousness!"
Amy piped up as well, pointing towards the essential area. "Look! That must be the core in the middle!"
Despite Solaris' powerful attacks carrying throughout the air, the trio overheard the essential advice. The hedgehogs formed together, sharing nods of agreement. Without another word, the trio raced forward into battle once more, determined to rid Solaris of his existence. To save the past, present and the future, there was their last chance.
Silver took the lead from above, avoiding the hundreds of energy beams towards him. He cupped his hands together, unleashing a barrage of Psycho Knives towards the powerful being. The projectibles explode upon impact, forcing a cry of anguish to echo from their opponent. "We're going to defeat you, Solaris!"
Shadow raced forward from below, swiftly removing his Inhibitor Rings once more. Against the powerful Sun God, he couldn't afford to conserve energy. He unleashed dozens of red destructive energy projectiles, homing towards the powerful being with enough force to penetrate his core. "Sonic, GO!"
Sonic threw himself forward, arms and legs held firmly to his sides, a powerful ray of gold left in his wake. He summoned every once of power, calling deep on the inner reserves of power. He weaved around the energy beams, noting they were less coordinated than before. Solaris grew desperate to keep the hedgehogs at bay, now fully aware they were targeting his weakness. With a cry of determination, Sonic surpassed his greatest speed, becoming a thundering force to be reckoned with. He broke through Solaris' defence, curling himself into a ball and unleashing one final Homing Attack.
The impact shook the fabric of time around them, a powerful tremor shook away the surrounding area, threatening to destroy the area. The hedgehogs regrouped a safe distance away, eagerly waiting with anticipation. Overwhelmed with raw energy that became too much to contain. Solaris unleashed a sickening roar as the combined attacks of the three hedgehogs penetrated his core. Its body crackled with electric tendrils that shook the fabric of the area. The golden light got brighter and brighter as if he himself was becoming a source of light, blue lightning crackling out of his body and crashing into the endless pit below, producing fiery explosions.
"Solaris knew its failure was vastly approaching. In a bid to save itself, it split away a small part of itself, slipping through the cracks of time."
The Sun God, as fast as it was reborn, broke away into fragments of raw energy, releasing several white beams across the area. Amongst the raw energy that became too much to bear, a floating dark mass slipped away from the commotion, slipping through a small Time Hole. The mass, barely containing a conscious state, resorted to retreating. Its glowing face glanced back, hissing at the ones responsible for its defeat.
"You would come to know this being as 'the Time Eater'. And little did I know of the consequences it would bring."
Mephiles narrowed his eyes towards the two survivors who launched onto his very word. Admittedly, he thought deceiving them would be more challenging. Yet despite his intimidating appearance and sinister voice, neither showed any distrust. Using the opportunity of their foolishness, he gestured towards the large monitor overhead.
"This was when Iblis was freed and his flames were released into the world," Mephiles explained before tapping a small button on the console. "And you have this person to blame."
Silver and Blaze studied the various news articles appearing over the monitor, shocked to see a simple hedgehog was the one responsible for their future. As they were entranced by the revelation, Mephiles handed Silver the Chaos Emerald. Using his own powers of deception, he manipulated the gem's powerful presence, creating a false vision for Silver to witness. He saw the blue hedgehog basked in flames, showing no remorse for his actions.
Silver threw back his head in alarm. "I see it! That blue hedgehog was the Iblis Trigger!"
Blaze narrowed her eyes curiously, one hand resting against her hip as she studied her friend's reaction. "Blue hedgehog?"
Mephiles accepted the Chaos Emerald once more, calling on its power. "I'll send us back in time to the point when the Iblis Trigger was alive."
With the raw passion of the Chaos Emerald combined with his dark presence, Mephiles manipulated the incredible power and casted a force of energy around the duo. Silver and Blaze winced in response to the feeling, barely able to get a word out before they vanished in a flash of light. As they disappeared, Mephiles stepped back in surprise, noting he was still within the future.
He glanced down, observing the absence of a Chaos Emerald within his hand. "What sorcery is this?"
Before questioning the unexpected failure, unusual energy brushed against his darkened fur. The sensation felt oddly familiar, almost as if his own powers were being used against him. He slumped around, coming face to face with the unfamiliar presence. If Mephiles could alter his expression, confusion would certainly be painted across his face.
A gateway to another dimension took the form of a circular portal, dark energy and smoky outer edgers filling the border. At first, Mephiles thought nothing of it, brushing it off as a side effect of the Chaos Emerald's powers. But on the other side of the portal, there was no sign of the past. Or anything for that matter. Intrigued by the opportunity, Mephiles stepped forward with no concern about the possibilities inside.
"I entered what you came to know as 'White Space'. The Time Eater created a rift in space and time to Silver's future. It was here that I learned about everything that would come to be."
His lifeless eyes studied the empty void that seemingly extended into infinity. Everything inside appeared to be devoid of life. But there were whispers, voices that echoed from all locations. A lesser man would have been driven insane by the thousands of voices. Mephiles pushed through the voices, allowing the sensation to drive him forward. Through sheer willpower alone, he concentrated on the familiar energy, certain he recognized the power, as if it were his own self calling to him.
More gateways unexpectedly opened in all directions, revealing the source of the voices. Mephiles approached one particular gateway, intrigued by the other side. Two familiar faces conversed, completely oblivious to his presence. Sonic the Hedgehog, the one he knew would play a strong role in the release of Iblis once he perished, calmly spoke with Princess Elise. The two were alone in a dark room with Elise holding the Flame of Hope within her hands.
"If we put out this flame, Solaris will never exist, And then we'll never have to worry about the Flames of Disaster, right? But our encounter... You and I will never meet. It will never have happened. I…" Elise forced herself to be silent, her eyes threatening to leak waterfalls once more. She swallowed the large lump in her throat, desperately trying to push away the feeling of despair. "Sonic… I'll miss you."
With a smile of reassurance, Sonic gently took her free hand within both of her own. "Elise. Just smile."
The mere thought of never meeting Sonic, the only one who treated her as a friend and not of royalty, saddened the princess greatly. Their adventures together, the bond they grew would be forgotten within an instance. It pained her to do so, but for everything to return to normal, she knew what had to be done. Elise shared one final glance with the blue hedgehog, silently expressing her gratitude for his selflessness. She gently blew the flame out and all fell silent.
"Princess Elise's actions created another timeline where Solaris never existed. This came to be your current existence. The original timeline would be forever locked away. If I were to return, I would be trapped in a forever paradox. My only choice was to migrate to a new universe. Yours."
Another gateway captivated Mephiles' attention, one with a familiar future. He stepped forward once more, marvelled by the reappearance of Silver and Blaze, the former now cradling two Chaos Emeralds within his grasp. His head tilted, a hint of confusion filled his otherwise empty gaze. Mephiles hadn't intended to send them back once he deceived them. But now they returned to their world, defiantly battling the monster that haunted their lives once more.
Iblis lay dormant once more, becoming nothing more than gentle flames. With a determined yell, Silver threw the Chaos Emeralds forward and forcefully dragged the flames to his soul. A painful growl escaped his lips, a scorching sensation threatening to burn him from within. "No! Why won't it accept me as the vessel?"
Stubborn as ever, Silver exerted his efforts and fought to force the flames inside, even as the pain forced him to cry out in anguish. But despite his valiant efforts, the flames refused to accept him. His eyes clenched, hands slowly losing their grip against the Chaos Emeralds. Silver refused to let go, knowing his world depended on this very moment. If his death was needed to bring forever peace, so be it.
A gentle hand placed itself against his shoulder, breaking Silver from the intense concentration. Without saying a word, Blaze scooped the Chaos Emeralds within her hands and focused. The Flames of Disaster merged with her soul, her flaming heart serving as the perfect vessel. Finally losing his strength, Silver fell to his knees, gasping with relief.
"My soul is already alight with flames," Blaze explained, flames swirling around her as she turned towards her friend. "But I don't know how long I can hold this. Silver, you must use Chaos Control to stop time…" she hesitated to continue, knowing how emotionally unstable he was. "Then you must seal us into a different dimension."
Silver felt like his heart had been twisted in two by the suggestion. Stubborn as ever, he pushed himself forward in a bid to save her, held back by the flames surrounding her person. "No! I won't! I know we agreed to save the world at any price, but this can't be it!"
"Silver," Blaze calmly said.
"No!" Silver exclaimed. "I-I-I can't! Without you Blaze, I'm nothing! We fought together for so long. We have to see it through together! Because we're friends… Right?"
With a disappointed yet gentle chuckle, Blaze softly shook her head. "You're still so naïve. I… I've always liked that about you. Don't worry, you won't have to burden yourself with guilt."
Before he questioned her actions, Blaze held out the Chaos Emeralds and focused her thoughts, recalling how the blue hedgehog from the past had performed this ability several times. The gemstones grew brighter as she roared her final commands. "Chaos Control!"
Silver charged forward, colliding face first with a dark shield that formed around his friend. The impact knocked him back to the ground, landing beside the discarded Chaos Emeralds. He threw his gaze towards the desolate skies, watching helplessly as his friend floated away, becoming transparent with every passing second, like a ghost beginning their journey to afterlife.
He could do nothing but call out her name, one arm raised pleadingly. "Blaze!"
She floated towards the heavens, unwillingly carried by the power of Chaos Control. She had no idea of what awaited her on the other side, but it mattered little anymore. Blaze peered down with a small smile and softly waved her hand, her voice echoing as she faded away. In a rare moment of weakness, Silver swore he saw a tear escape her eye. "Good luck, Silver!"
Silver watched her sacrifice from afar, fading away from existence. In place of the clouded skies were rays of light descending upon him. The lava below quenched, the flames basking the city were no more. His eyes welcomed the sunrise, that iris of fire so pretty in its mascara of pure light. He continued gazing towards the now crystal clear sky, his arm still outstretched for her to take. "Blaze…"
His legs gave out, bringing the future warrior to his knees once more. Silver's fingertips traced along the ground where she had stood, longing for the space to be filled. But she was gone, sealed away into an unknown dimension, alone with the monster that tormented them for so long. Despite the crystal clear skies, the world was much darker without her.
He won, but at what cost?
"The dimension Blaze sealed herself within was nothing but void space. Until that moment when Solaris was defeated. The resetting of events created the Sol Dimension. Like you, her memories of her old life were enclosed away. She unknowingly served as a vessel for Iblis. That was the moment I understood what needed to be done."
Mephiles stepped away once, a familiar sense of energy beginning to swarm around his arm. He peered down and delicately caught the swarm within his grasp. In an apparent response to his touch, the energy coursed through his person. With a simple hand wave, he marvelled at the newfound power. Several more portals opened from each direction, revealing events of the past, present and future.
"This place," Mephiles muttered. "Holds vast knowledge of the universe. If I am to fail in my original existence, I will bide my time here. You may have won this round, heroes. But I will return… And next time… There will be no second chances."
What a chapter, eh? There you have it. This is how Mephiles came to co-exist within the current timeline. I think we'll end the story here. Only joking, wouldn't do that to you guys. I'd love to know what everyone thinks of the revelation. Either PM or leave a review. Thank you for the support. Join me in chapter 12 for the next part.